TVR 400SE
{{Short description|British sports car}}
{{For|an overview of the "wedge" body|TVR Wedges}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=July 2017}}
{{Use British English|date=July 2017}}
{{Infobox automobile
| image = TVR 400 SE.jpg
| name = TVR 400SE
| aka = TVR 400SX
TVR 430SE
TVR 450SE
| manufacturer = TVR
| platform = TVR Wedge
| production = 1988–1991
287 produced
| assembly = United Kingdom: Blackpool, England
| class = Sports car
| body_style = 2-door convertible
| layout = FR layout
| engine = 3.9–4.4 L TVR Power Rover V8
| transmission = 5 spd manual
| predecessor = TVR 390SE
| successor = TVR Griffith
| designer = Oliver Winterbottom
}}
The TVR 400/450SE was a series of open sports cars designed and built by TVR from 1988 to 1991. The 400SE was introduced in 1988, the 450SE a year later. The 400SE was the last of the Wedges built, with the last cars being produced in late 1991 and registered in 1992.{{cite web | title = TVR Wedge: SE's | publisher = Pistonheads.com | url = http://www.pistonheads.com/tvr/wedges/se.htm | accessdate = 2010-12-14 }} There were also a handful of special versions built, including two Sprintex supercharged 400SX in 1989, and three Griffith-engined 430SEs constructed in 1991.{{cite web | title = TVR Wedge Specials | publisher = Pistonheads.com | url = http://www.pistonheads.com/tvr/wedges/specials.htm | accessdate = 2010-12-14 }}
History
The 400SE was largely similar to late 390SEs, but featured marginally larger displacement - 3,948 versus 3,905 cc. The body was as for Series 2 390SEs, with the more rounded nose and a large rear underbody aerofoil. An asymmetrically vented bonnet was deemed necessary to dispel the additional heat of the larger, more powerful engine, and there was also a large rear spoiler (smaller than the 'bathtray' style used on the SEAC, but still large). The appearance was considerably more mature than the wild SEAC, but both suffered from the large transmission tunnel which cramped the footwell and serious heatsink from the large engines. On the plus side was the "phenomenal noise" and "exhilarating acceleration".{{Cite journal | last = Clements | first = Alastair | title = Sports Car Special | journal = Classic & Sports Car Magazine | url = http://www.tvr-webmart.co.uk/articles/tvr_article_09.asp | volume = 19 | issue = 1 | date = April 2000 | page = 81 | archiveurl = https://web.archive.org/web/20130610180729/http://www.tvr-webmart.co.uk/articles/tvr_article_09.asp | archivedate = 10 June 2013 | df = dmy-all }}
Ventilated front disc brakes and fifteen inch wheels were standard fitment, with power steering available and later made standard. In 1989 the even bigger engined 450SE appeared, with an extra 45 bhp but otherwise hard to distinguish from the 400. Production of the 450SE ended in 1990 after 35 had been built.
There was also the 1989 400SX, a supercharged version developed by "Northern TVR Centre" in Barrow-in-Furness. Along with DPR Forced Induction Systems Sprintex supercharger units were fitted. While power and torque outputs are unknown, the smaller engined 350SX showed increases of over thirty percent. The supercharged versions provided additional mid-range punch compared to the peakier, naturally aspirated models.
The last development of the SE was the 430SE, three of which were built in 1991. They used the 4.3-litre V8 engine also seen in the recently introduced TVR Griffith; one of them was shown at the 1991 Birmingham Motor Show.
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Specifications
| border="2" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="5" rules="all" border:solid 2px #1C1C1C; style="margin:1em 1em 1em 0; border-collapse:collapse; background-color:#FFFAFA; font-size:85%; empty-cells:show;"
|width=150 style="background-color:#EEE9E9;" |Version | align="center" width=180 style="background-color:#EEE9E9;" | 400SE{{Cite book | title = Quattroruote: Tutte le Auto del Mondo 1990 | editor = Mastrostefano, Raffaele | publisher = Editoriale Domus S.p.A | year = 1990 | page = 1100 | language = Italian | location = Milano }} | align="center" width=180 style="background-color:#EEE9E9;" | 450SE | align="center" width=180 style="background-color:#EEE9E9;" | 430SE |
| style="background-color:#EEE9E9;" | Production
| align="center" | 1988–1991 | align="center" | 1989–1990 | align="center" | 1991 |
| style="background-color:#EEE9E9;" | Engine |
| rowspan=2 style="background-color:#EEE9E9;" | Displacement
| align="center" | 3,948 cc | align="center" | 4,441 cc | align="center" | 4,280 cc |
| align="center" | 94.0 x 71.12 mm
| align="center" | 94.0 x 80.0 mm | align="center" | 94.0 x 77.1 mm{{cite book | title = Auto Katalog 1993 | publisher = Vereinigte Motor-Verlage GmbH & Co. KG | location = Stuttgart | pages = 26–27, Technische Daten tearout | year = 1992 }} |
| style="background-color:#EEE9E9;" | Power
| align="center" | {{convert|275|bhp|kW PS|0|abbr=on}} at 5,500 rpm | align="center" | {{convert|320|bhp|kW PS|0|abbr=on}} at 5,700 rpm | align="center" | {{convert|280|bhp|kW PS|0|abbr=on}} at 5,500 rpm |
| style="background-color:#EEE9E9;" | Torque
| align="center" | {{convert|270|lbft|Nm|0|abbr=on}} at 3,500 rpm | align="center" | {{convert|310|lbft|Nm|0|abbr=on}} at 4,000 rpm | align="center" | {{convert|305|lbft|Nm|0|abbr=on}} at 4,000 rpm |
| style="background-color:#EEE9E9;" | Top Speed
| align="center" | {{convert|145|mph|km/h|0|abbr=on}} | align="center" | {{convert|150|mph|km/h|0|abbr=on}} | align="center" | n/a |
| style="background-color:#EEE9E9;" | Acceleration (0–60 mph)
| align="center" |5.6 sec | align="center" |5.2 sec | align="center" |n/a |
| style="background-color:#EEE9E9;" | Acceleration (0–100 mph)
| align="center" |14.8 sec | align="center" |n/a | align="center" |n/a |
| style="background-color:#EEE9E9;" | Chassis
| colspan="3" align="center" | Tubular spaceframe, rear-wheel drive |
| style="background-color:#EEE9E9;" | Body
| colspan="3" align="center" | Fibreglass, 2-seater convertible |
| style="background-color:#EEE9E9;" | Weight
| align="center" |{{convert|1160|kg|lb|0|abbr=on}} | colspan="2" align="center" |{{convert|1216|kg|lb|0|abbr=on}} |
| style="background-color:#EEE9E9;" | Transmission
| colspan="3" align="center" | Five speed gearbox (LT77) |
| style="background-color:#EEE9E9;" | Wheels
| colspan="3" align="center" | 225/50 VR15, 8J x 15 rims |
| style="background-color:#EEE9E9;" | Wheelbase
|colspan="3" align="center" |{{convert|2387|mm|in|1|abbr=on}} |
| style="background-color:#EEE9E9;" | Track (F/R)
|colspan="3" align="center" |1,450 / 1,480 mm (57.1 / 58.3 in) |
| style="background-color:#EEE9E9;" | Length/Width/ Height
|colspan="3" align="center" |4,013 / 1,728 / 1,205 mm |
References
{{reflist}}
{{TVR}}
{{TVR road car timeline}}
Category:Rear-wheel-drive vehicles